Crafty Blogger's Link Wrap Up!

Here's your weekly dose of crafty inspiration from the Crafty Blogger's Gang.  We've got glue guns and we're not afraid to use them!

It's a New Day and I'm Feeling Good! TastyLinks Saturday!

I can not control the world around me. I can not control the people whom I encounter. I can not control chaos.

The only thing I can control is the manner in which I react to these things.

Some days the tough stuff just rolls off of my back like water on a duck. Some days I could give a flying flip through a rolling donut if people aren't nice to me. Then there are those days when it just plain hurts.

Yesterday was one of those days. Today...I'm back to feeling good about the world and the people around me and the chaos I'm currently experiencing. Everything in life is about perspective. I'd rather feel it deeply and then release it than shove it down inside where it festers and bubbles. No matter what we do, there will always be those who don't like us, feel threatened, try to undermine us, try to steal our sparkle and we can either implode under the weight of these things or we can rise up and sparkle anyway. The more you put yourself out there, the more opposition you will find. The only way to thrive is to see that opposition as a thin sheet of tissue paper through which you can easily pass.

Sometimes I want to just confront these people and ask them straight up, "Why are you so afraid of me?" But I don't, because I know they don't have an answer to that question. That kind of insecurity is so deeply embedded that even the person moving from it doesn't fully understand it.

So today, I say, you can't hurt me. I wish you joy. I wish you love. I wish you the peace that comes from knowing that you are an infinitely beautiful creation, as am I. As are all of us, even those who have completely forgotten.

And on that note I shall share the infinitely beautiful creations of some of the most creative folks I know:

Firstly my dear friend Andrew Thornton is having a wonderful giveaway on his blog of Kate McKinnon's fabulous new book! Everyone needs a copy of this book, trust me.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the new book "Crochet Prayer Shawls" and reveals the design that he contributed to the project.

The Artful Crafter
Look how easy it is to personalize a canvas tote bag with Quick Fuse fabric sheets.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See 2 fun mixed-media altered book techniques I tried from the new book Collage Playground by Kimberly Santiago.

Mixed Media Artist
Want to get your feet wet with altered books?

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge gets some much needed inspiration from the divine Cecil Beaton and Gigi.

Crafty Princess Diaries
There's more, more, more to do on the jewelry making book! When will this process end?

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got the cutest retro style fawn softie pattern and how-to, a free pop-up staircase template download, a bunch of beaded bling inspirations and throw in a bit of fashion with a redo spin all for your crafty pleasure.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi coats some paper with resin to make these pretty wired pendants.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how to create a faux aged metal look on Anaglypta wallpaper.

About Family Crafts
Are you planning a trip that will keep the family confined to the car or airplane for a long amount of time? If so, these travel games and crafts might be just what you need!

Saturday TastyLinks!

Oh it's time again, yes once again, for your Linky Love shower! Break out those slickers and throw on your wellies!

I'm not feeling very chatty today, which is a rare occasion, so savor it while it lasts, people. A big crafty welcome to the delightful and talented Carmi Cimicata. You're going to love her! Do enjoy this week's craftacular linksplosion from "The Crafty Bloggers: We've got glue guns and we're not afraid to use them." (tm)

The Artful Crafter
Artist profile of June Crawford, “A Creative Dreamer” who crafts her dreams with words, charming art dolls and fantastical doodles – among other things. Take a peek into another artist’s creative world.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Silver French knot sunburst embellished tote using the pattern in Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts

Mixed Media Artist
What can you do with some vintage sheet music, fabric, and a photo transfer?

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge has a new DIY Website! Come read all about it and check it out!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is spilling some of the beans concerning a new project she's working on - jewelry making kits!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a tutorial on how to print on tissue paper from the book Creative Wildfire and a chance to win a copy of it, a super cute tutorial on how to needle felt a hedgehog, making a tole painted message block, and the latest Look, Learn, & Create video with Lisa Kettell.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi turns wood curtain pulls into pretty dolls.

About Family Crafts
Check out this collection of free printable projects for Father's Day. Print and make Father's Day cards, coupon books, tags, and much more.

Saturday TastyLinks!

The BQOTU™

It's Saturday!

I'm working!

I'm wearing a tiara today!

I've had one too many cups of coffee!

I'm using far too many exclamation points!

Huzzah!

The tiara is a prototype design for the new book. It has a few nit picky little glitches I need to fix for the finished project. Ergh. That means I must make another tiara, I tried my best to cover up the glitches, but alas, I do have SOME quality standards. Wrapping a tiara with crystals takes a very, very long time. One must be patient. In fact this is a book of projects that all require patience. I'm averaging one a day on a good day. Yes, the impatient one is making a book of projects that require patience...and the willingness to attempt to defy physics...and to try and try again when the laws of physics get in our way. Damn time-space continuum.

Slowing down to create these projects has become a sort of a moving meditation. I'm feeling a Zen like sense of channeling the creative force. I can almost hear chanting monks in the background as I work.

Or is that mooing cows from the dairy farm across the street?

Please understand that a project that takes me all day to complete is as far as I'm willing to take the aforementioned Zen like meditation. For you, a day spent wrapping a tiara might not seem like a very, very long time. In Madge years, it is an eternity. I'm simply not spending a month on one project. I'm not that obsessive compulsive. Or I am...because I need to keep moving forward.

Or I'm just blathering on and on here because I'm avoiding diving back into the tiara.

I occasionally jokingly refer to myself as the BQOTU™ or Bead Queen of the Universe™. Mostly because I can and because I know it really irks some people who feel me undeserving of the title. Tee hee. They could have crowned themselves BQOTU™ prior to my claiming it. Today I am reclaiming my BQOTU™ crown. Because I can. Insert trumpet flourish here.

The BQOTU™ has spoken.

Now go forth and make stuff people. What the heck are you doing reading this drivel?! Before you go though...please peruse the plethora of pleasing projects and posts from the Crafty Bloggers Gang. "We've got glue guns and we're not afraid to use them."™

The Artful Crafter
How to sew felted wool boxes to organize odds and ends.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a Steampunk button and recycled 80's earring into a cool new necklace

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
So you want to write a craft book? Here's part five in Madge's series on how to do it!

Crafty Princess Diaries
After seriously losing sleep over taking photographs for her Etsy shop, Tammy has a eureka jewelry photography moment.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a recycled book page mobile from the book-Playing With Books and a chance to win a free copy of it, a new Look, Learn, and Create video on how to make a box stitch ribbon bracelet with Elaine Schmidt, tips on painting Rembrandt style, and some "Graphic Stew" line and shape ingredients!

Cathie Filian
It is fashion time for dad! Check out Cathie's father's day ideas.

Beading Arts
Chapter two of Cyndi's e-book is available for download! "Altered Surfaces" begins the exploration of the exchange between mixed media and bead embroidery!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how to make vivacious vivid shipping tags to use on your gifts and in your art!

About Family Crafts
Father's Day is just around the corner. What will you do for all the other special dads you know? This year, why not make a special, home-made gift for all of the guys in your life!

Check out this wonderful profile of yours truly written by the lovely Marjorie Miller of The Land of Odds Jewelry Spotter Blog!

Bid on some signed Margot Potter books and original artwork at the KENW auction!

Get the hell outta here already!